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The first-round showdown between the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets and No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers has lived up to every expectation. It has been arguably the most balanced and unpredictable series in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. With Denver holding a 3-2 lead entering Game 6, the intensity is only rising, and all eyes will be on whether the Nuggets can close things out in Los Angeles or if the Clippers can force a dramatic Game 7 back in the altitude of Denver.
Each game in this series has carried its own identity and a different hero. Game 1 was an overtime thriller in Denver, where Nikola Jokic’s near triple-double (29/12/9) and Aaron Gordon’s 25 points were just enough to edge out James Harden, who dropped 32 points and 11 assists in his best playoff performance so far in this series. Turnovers and free throws swung Game 1 in Denver’s favor despite efficient nights from Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.
Game 2 was the signature “Kawhi Game.” Leonard exploded for 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting, completely controlling the flow and masking L.A.’s weaknesses on the boards. The Clippers evened the series, as the Nuggets struggled with 20 turnovers and failed to get to the line.
Back in L.A., Game 3 looked like a turning point – a 117-83 Clippers rout where Denver’s supporting cast completely disappeared. Harden, Kawhi, Zubac and Norman Powell each scored 19+, and the Clippers defense shut down Denver’s perimeter game, holding them to just 7-of-26 from three.
But just when the Clippers seemed poised to take control, the Nuggets stunned everyone in Game 4. In perhaps the most dramatic moment of the playoffs, Jokic’s final-second three-pointer missed the rim and turned into a perfect alley-oop to Aaron Gordon, whose dunk beat the buzzer by milliseconds. Jokic was masterful, recording 36 points and 21 boards. Denver’s poise stole the momentum and allowed them to regain home-court advantage.
Game 5 saw the most convincing performance yet from the 2023 champs. Jamal Murray reminded everyone why he’s a postseason killer, torching L.A. for 40 points on 8-of-14 from deep in a 131-115 win. The Clippers, particularly James Harden (3-of-9, 11 points), looked gassed. Jokic was relatively quiet with 13 points and foul trouble, but it didn’t matter. Denver’s energy was unmatched, and they hit L.A. with an offensive onslaught that made one of the league’s best defenses look slow and overwhelmed.
All of that leads to Game 6 and the big question: will the Nuggets close this out, or are we destined for a Game 7?
It’s rare for a team to win a playoff game in which its superstar has an off night, but that’s exactly what the Nuggets did in Game 5. That doesn’t bode well for the Clippers, who now must figure out how to slow both Murray and a likely resurgent Jokic on Thursday night. The Clippers have the defensive personnel, led by Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn, to make Murray’s life difficult. But the bigger problem is energy. Denver looked fresher, faster and hungrier.
Still, there are reasons to believe the Clippers can fight back.
First, this is a veteran group with pride and playoff pedigree. Kawhi Leonard is a two-time Finals MVP, and while he’s been solid (25.2 PPG in the series), he hasn’t had a monster outing since Game 2. The Clippers desperately need that vintage version of Kawhi, a 30+ point game where he controls tempo, scores from all three levels and sets the defensive tone.
James Harden is the other major variable. He has struggled against the length and physicality of Christian Braun, and his lack of assertiveness in Game 5 was glaring. If the Clippers push this to seven, they need Harden to initiate offense early, drive downhill and find shooters, all while staying confident and using his bag of tricks to create shots for himself. Denver ranked 22nd in three-point percentage defense during the regular season, and Harden needs to be able to exploit that.
Zubac has been quietly consistent, and L.A. would be wise to keep feeding him inside. The Nuggets ranked 21st in second-chance points allowed and 24th in points in the paint allowed during the regular season. When the Clippers attack the rim, good things happen.
Denver, on the other hand, must maintain its pace and shooting rhythm. Jamal Murray can’t be expected to drop 40 again, but his confidence is sky-high, and if Jokic avoids foul trouble, the duo is borderline unguardable. Gordon has also delivered steady production, while Michael Porter Jr. has been up and down, and the Nuggets’ underrated depth has shined through in key moments.
But the Nuggets do have vulnerabilities. Their defense, while improved in the playoffs, can still give up easy drives and second-chance opportunities. If their energy dips or Murray cools off, things can shift quickly in a hostile road environment.
Ultimately, this feels like a moment for Kawhi Leonard. His team needs him badly. And in past years, he’s delivered in these spots.
Leonard averages 25.2 points per game in the series and has had playoff stretches well above 30 in his career. With the season on the line and the Clippers needing their leader to dominate, expect him to rise to the occasion at home.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.